Witnesses undergoing baptism are required to publicly confirm that they are associating themselves "with God's spirit-directed organization", thereby submitting themselves to its direction and judicial system. Watch Tower publications teach that the Bible is an "organizational book" that does not belong to individuals and that the Bible cannot be properly understood without guidance by "Jehovah's visible organization". Witnesses teach that people must choose between God's organization and Satan's. The organization is said to be theocratic, "ruled from the divine Top down, and not from the rank and file up". Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God uses an organization both in heaven and on earth, and that Jehovah's Witnesses, under the direction of their Governing Body, are the only visible channel by which God communicates with humanity. The former organization headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. Members who promote privately developed teachings contrary to those of the Governing Body may be expelled and shunned. Watch Tower Society publications strongly discourage Witnesses from formulating doctrines and "private ideas" reached through independent Bible research. All Witnesses are expected to abide by the doctrines and organizational requirements as determined by the Governing Body. The leadership makes no provision for members to criticize or contribute to official teachings. Robert Crompton, author of a book on Watch Tower eschatology, has noted that it is difficult to trace the development of doctrines, because explicit changes are often not identified in Jehovah's Witness literature, leaving readers to assume which details have been superseded. However, the Governing Body disclaims infallibility and divine inspiration. Watch Tower literature has suggested such enlightenment results from the application of reason and study, the guidance of holy spirit, and direction from Jesus Christ and angels. The view is based on their interpretation of Proverbs 4:18, which they believe refers to a continuous progressive advancement in doctrinal knowledge and scriptural understanding for "righteous ones", with the holy spirit helping "responsible representatives of 'the faithful and discreet slave' at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood". Jehovah's Witnesses are directed to welcome doctrinal changes, regarding such "adjustments" as "new light" or "new understanding" from God. At the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Watch Tower Society, the "faithful and discreet slave" was defined as referring to the Governing Body only. The Governing Body seeks neither advice nor approval from any "anointed" Witnesses, other than high-ranking members at the Brooklyn headquarters. Until late 2012, the Governing Body described itself as the representative and "spokesman" for God's " faithful and discreet slave class", a limited number of "anointed" Jehovah's Witnesses. See also: Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrineĭoctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by their Governing Body, which Witnesses are taught Jesus uses as a channel for God's progressive revelations and to direct Christians on biblical matters. Witnesses refer to all their beliefs collectively as "the Truth". All members of the denomination are expected to take an active part in preaching. They see their mission as primarily evangelical, disseminating " the good news", to warn as many people as possible in the remaining time before Armageddon.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the present world order, which they perceive as being under the control of Satan, will be ended by a direct intervention of Jehovah (God), who will use Jesus Christ to fully establish his heavenly government over earth, destroying existing human governments and non-Witnesses, and creating a cleansed society of true worshippers who will live forever. These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower magazine and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, and at conventions and congregation meetings. Since 1976, all doctrinal decisions have been made by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, a group of elders at the denomination's headquarters. The beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russell-founder of the Bible Student movement-and successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and Nathan Homer Knorr.
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